Apparently, the early winter weather passed them over and they are enjoying some warm fall temps. Which he is happy about! He is also happy that he is going to be a trainer again and stay in Zoliborz. He says it's a lot of responsibility and can be a little nerve racking, but he absolutely loves it. It makes him think about being as good an example as possible, at all times.
The week brought many opportunities to teach lessons, both on the streets and in people's homes. They have been meeting with a man and his sister, which Lance says has been going well. He says they are very open minded and he appreciates that. They also met with another woman who has been going to their English class. Lance says she is progressing wonderfully and believes she will accept baptism soon.
Halloween in Poland is much more of a spiritual celebration and it goes for three days. November 1st is called "The Day of the Dead" and the missionaries put together an open house at the chapel to introduce the Gospel to visitors. They put up several displays representing different aspects of the Gospel, such as The Plan of Salvation and the Restoration. They also sang hymns and served refreshments. He said they had a great turn out and it was a lot of fun.
For his spiritual thought, he focuses on leadership. He says being on this mission has really taught him how important it is to lead by example. Though he feels like he has been taught since childhood how to lead, he feels that he has grown much more in this area through being completely obedient to God's will. He adds that being bold, confident, and diligent in all things makes a good leader. He has learned a lot of great things from his leaders on the mission. He points out that those people who are always being obedient to the Lord are those who have had the greatest influence on him.
Lance also feels it's important that missionaries do their best in all things, to be optimistic and positive. To just be happy and enthusiastic about life, ready to help and serve. Willing to give more than is expected. He explains that he has made it his goal to be a "consecrated missionary"...someone who does these things because he wants to.
To quote Tad R. Callister's talk Becoming a Consecrated Missionary:
"What is a consecrated missionary? It is a missionary who is willing to lay everything on the altar of sacrifice and to hold nothing back. It is a willingness to give every ounce of energy, every conscious thought, and every drop of passion to this work - to submit our will to God's will, whatever it may be."
Lance also shares a great scripture from the Book of Mormon...Alma 38:5 "...I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day." See http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/38
This young man was a good buddy in Poland, but he's home now.
I'm certain Lance will be looking him up when he's home!
November 11, 2013
Lance starts off this week's recordings by sharing a lot of great things about his new companion. Lance says that getting a companion straight out of the MTC is fun because they have so much fresh hope and excitement...and it is a great boost!
They were able to meet with an elderly man who survived WWII. The man took them to a memorial near their apartment to show them where the Polish Uprising began. The man was able to give them a lot of the story of how the Uprising started. Lance usually jumps on the opportunity to learn anything he can about Poland from the people he meets.
They have been experiencing "so many miracles" lately! They met a man from Nigeria who is in Poland playing for a soccer league team. Lance says he is so cool, has a lot of faith, and is very sincere. Lance speaks of an elderly man they are meeting with who is doing wonderfully. They received a great compliment from this man...he used an honorable term in Polish which means something like "I bow to you". I guess it's a huge honor to have someone "bow to you"! Lance said this has only happened to him twice now.
His spiritual thought for this week is about being a part of God's work. As a missionary, Lance has had the opportunity to immerse himself in teaching the Gospel. But it applies to all of us...God helps us make our weaknesses strengths. To accomplish God's great work, we must strive to be in alignment with His will and express our Christ-like attributes. Lance says that one scripture that has influenced him greatly is from Mosiah 28:3, which reads: "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."
He says that has personally been a reason he's on a mission...to share the same happiness he has with others. Though he's not perfect, he knows that he can still help others.
Lance loves Poland and the Polish people. He loves the Lord. He loves his family and friends. And he loves life.
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